Light emitting display device, light emitting display panel, driving circuit, and driving method

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a light emitting display device, a light emitting display panel, a driving circuit, and a driving method. A light emitting display device, a light emitting display panel, a driving circuit, and a driving method with an embedded touch sensor are provided in which a data voltage and a first reference voltage are supplied to a plurality of data lines and a plurality of reference electrodes which are arranged in the light emitting display panel in a first driving period, and a second reference voltage different from the first reference voltage is supplied to one or more of the plurality of reference electrodes in a second driving period different from the first driving period.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/721,669, filed Dec. 19, 2019, which claims priority from KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2018-0171863, filed on Dec. 28, 2018, which ishereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forthherein.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a light emitting displaydevice, a light emitting display panel, a driving circuit, and a drivingmethod.

Description of the Related Art

Recently, various light emitting display devices in which display isembodied by embedding spontaneous light emitting elements such asorganic light emitting diodes in a display panel instead of using abacklight unit have been developed.

In order to mount a touch sensing function in such a light emittingdisplay device, a touch panel including a touch sensor is separatelymanufactured and the touch panel is bonded to a light emitting displaypanel. In this case, there are problems in that the thickness of thelight emitting display device increases and device manufacturingprocesses become complicated.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One or more of the embodiments of the present disclosure provides alight emitting display device, a light emitting display panel, a drivingcircuit, and a driving method in which a touch sensor is embedded.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a light emittingdisplay device, a light emitting display panel, a driving circuit, and adriving method in which a touch sensor is embedded in conjunction with asubpixel structure.

Still another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a lightemitting display device, a light emitting display panel, a drivingcircuit, and a driving method that can provide an improved touchsensitivity.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided alight emitting display device including: a light emitting display panelin which a plurality of data lines and a plurality of reference voltagelines are arranged in a first direction, a plurality of gate lines arearranged in a second direction, a plurality of subpixels which areformed adjacent to the plurality of data lines and the plurality of gatelines that are arranged in a matrix type, and a plurality of referenceelectrodes which are electrically connected to the plurality ofreference voltage lines are arranged; a data driving circuit that drivesthe plurality of data lines; and a reference electrode driving circuitthat drives the plurality of reference electrodes via the plurality ofreference voltage lines.

Each subpixel includes a light emitting element, a driving transistorthat drives the light emitting element, and a first transistor that iscontrolled between ON and OFF in accordance with a sensing signal and iselectrically connected between a source node or a drain node of thedriving transistor and the corresponding data line.

In a first driving period, the data driving circuit supplies a datavoltage to the plurality of data lines and the reference electrodedriving circuit supplies a first reference voltage to the plurality ofreference electrodes via the plurality of reference voltage lines.

In a second driving period different from the first driving period, thereference electrode driving circuit supplies a second reference voltagedifferent from the first reference voltage to one or more of theplurality of reference electrodes via one or more of the plurality ofreference voltage lines.

Each of the plurality of reference electrodes may overlap two or moresubpixels.

The plurality of reference electrodes may include a first referenceelectrode and a second reference electrode. The first referenceelectrode may be electrically connected to a first reference voltageline and the second reference electrode may be electrically connected toa second reference voltage line. The second reference voltage line mayoverlap the first reference electrode and be insulated from the firstreference electrode in the light emitting display panel.

In the first driving period, the first reference voltage which issupplied to the reference electrode via the reference voltage line maybe divided and supplied to gate nodes of the driving transistors in twoor more subpixels overlapping the reference electrode.

In the second driving period, the second reference voltage which issupplied to the reference electrode via the reference voltage line maynot be supplied to the gate nodes of the driving transistors in two ormore subpixels overlapping the reference electrode.

The first transistor may be turned on at a selected timing in the firstdriving period and supply the data voltage supplied via the data line toa source node or a drain node of the driving transistor. The firsttransistor may be turned off in the second driving period.

The sensing signal which is supplied to the gate node of the firsttransistor may have a turn-on level voltage at a turn-on timing of thefirst transistor and have a turn-off level voltage at other timings inthe first driving period.

A voltage level of the sensing signal which is supplied to the gate nodeof the first transistor may swing within a turn-off level voltage rangeand one or more of a frequency, a phase, and an amplitude of the sensingsignal may correspond to the second reference voltage in the seconddriving period.

A second transistor that is controlled between ON and OFF in accordancewith a scan signal and is electrically connected between the referenceelectrode and a gate node of the driving transistor may be disposed inthe light emitting display panel.

The second transistor may be turned on at a selected timing in the firstdriving period and supply the first reference voltage supplied to thereference electrode via the reference voltage line to the gate node ofthe driving transistor. The second transistor may be turned off in thesecond driving period.

The scan signal of the second transistor may have a turn-on levelvoltage at a turn-on timing of the second transistor and have a turn-offlevel voltage at other timings in the first driving period.

A voltage level of the scan signal of the second transistor may swingwithin a turn-off level voltage range and one or more of a frequency, aphase, and an amplitude of the scan signal may correspond to the secondreference voltage in the second driving period.

The second transistor may be disposed for each subpixel.

Alternatively, the second transistor may be disposed for every two ormore subpixels.

When the plurality of reference electrodes overlap the subpixels of Xrows and Y columns (where X and Y are natural numbers equal to orgreater than 2), the second transistors of equal to or greater than oneand less than Y may be arranged every X rows in areas of the pluralityof reference electrodes.

A drain node or a source node of the second transistor may be connectedto the corresponding reference electrode, and the source node or thedrain node of the second transistor may be connected to the gate nodesof two or more driving transistors.

The first driving period may be an image driving period for displayingan image or a display sensing period for sensing a threshold voltage ora mobility.

The second driving period may be a touch driving period.

The first reference voltage may have a constant voltage level, and thesecond reference voltage may swing with a selected amplitude.

A data load-free signal of which one or more of a frequency, a phase,and an amplitude corresponds to the second reference voltage may besupplied to all or some of the plurality of data lines in the seconddriving period.

A gate load-free signal of which one or more of a frequency, a phase,and an amplitude corresponds to the second reference voltage may besupplied to all or some of the plurality of gate lines in the seconddriving period.

The light emitting display device may further include ananalog-to-digital converter that is electrically connected to the dataline, senses a voltage of the data line, and converts the sensed voltageinto a digital value.

The light emitting display device may further include a sampling switchthat is electrically connected between the data line and theanalog-to-digital converter, an initialization switch that iselectrically connected between the data line and an initializationvoltage supply node, a data switch that is electrically connectedbetween the data line and a data voltage supply node, and a referenceswitch that is electrically connected to the reference voltage line anda reference voltage supply node.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda method of driving a light emitting display device in which a pluralityof data lines and a plurality of reference voltage lines are arranged ina first direction, a plurality of gate lines are arranged in a seconddirection, a plurality of subpixels which are formed adjacent to theplurality of data lines and the plurality of gate lines which arearranged in a matrix type.

The method of driving the light emitting display device includes:supplying a data voltage to the plurality of data lines and supplying afirst reference voltage to a plurality of reference electrodes which areelectrically connected to the plurality of reference voltage lines in afirst driving period; and supplying a second reference voltage differentfrom the first reference voltage to one or more of the plurality ofreference electrodes via one or more of the plurality of referencevoltage lines in a second driving period different from the firstdriving period.

The first driving period may be an image driving period for displayingan image or a display sensing period for sensing a threshold voltage ora mobility.

The second driving period may be a touch driving period.

The first reference voltage may have a constant voltage level, and thesecond reference voltage may swing with a selected amplitude.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a light emitting display panel including: a plurality of datalines that are arranged in a first direction; a plurality of referencevoltage lines that are arranged in the first direction; a plurality ofgate lines that are arranged in a second direction; a plurality ofsubpixels that are formed adjacent to the plurality of data lines andthe plurality of gate lines and are arranged in a matrix type; and aplurality of reference electrodes that are electrically connected to theplurality of reference voltage lines.

Each subpixel may include a light emitting element, a driving transistorthat drives the light emitting element, and a first transistor that iscontrolled between ON and OFF in accordance with a sensing signal and iselectrically connected between a source node or a drain node of thedriving transistor and the corresponding data line.

The plurality of reference electrodes may be supplied with a firstreference voltage via the plurality of reference voltage lines in afirst driving period.

One or more of the plurality of reference electrodes may be suppliedwith a second reference voltage different from the first referencevoltage via one or more of the plurality of reference voltage lines in asecond driving period different from the first driving period.

Each of the plurality of reference electrodes may be disposed under anactive layer in a transistor area.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a driving circuit that drives a light emitting display panelincluding a light emitting element, a driving transistor that drives thelight emitting element, and a first transistor that is controlledbetween ON and OFF in accordance with a sensing signal and iselectrically connected between a source node or a drain node of thedriving transistor and a corresponding data line.

The driving circuit includes: a data driving circuit that supplies adata voltage to a plurality of data lines which are arranged in thelight emitting display panel in a first driving period; and a referenceelectrode driving circuit that supplies a first reference voltage to aplurality of reference electrodes which are arranged in the lightemitting display panel in the first driving period and supplies a secondreference voltage different from the first reference voltage to one ormore of the plurality of reference electrodes in a second driving perioddifferent from the first driving period.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a light emitting display device including: a plurality ofsubpixels of which each includes a light emitting element and a drivingtransistor that drives the light emitting element; a plurality of datalines that transmit a data voltage which is supplied to source nodes ordrain nodes of the driving transistors in the plurality of subpixels; aplurality of reference voltage lines that transmit a reference voltagewhich is supplied to gate nodes of the driving transistors in theplurality of subpixels; and a plurality of reference electrodes that areelectrically connected to the plurality of reference voltage lines.

In the light emitting display device, each of the plurality of referenceelectrodes lines may overlap areas of two or more subpixels.

The reference voltage which is supplied via an arbitrary first referencevoltage line out of the plurality of reference voltage lines may besupplied to the gate nodes of the driving transistors in two or moresubpixels overlapping the first reference electrode via a firstreference electrode which is electrically connected to the firstreference voltage line.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possibleto provide a light emitting display device, a light emitting displaypanel, a driving circuit, and a driving method in which a touch sensoris embedded.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possibleto provide a light emitting display device, a light emitting displaypanel, a driving circuit, and a driving method in which a touch sensoris embedded in conjunction with a subpixel structure.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possibleto provide a light emitting display device, a light emitting displaypanel, a driving circuit, and a driving method that can provide animproved touch sensitivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a system configuration ofa light emitting display device according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a 3T1C structure of each subpixel in alight emitting display panel according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a 2T1C structure of each subpixel in alight emitting display panel according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which signal lines in acolumn direction are arranged for four subpixels in the light emittingdisplay panel according to the embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating four subpixels having a 3T1C structurein the light emitting display panel according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating four subpixels having a 2T1C structurein the light emitting display panel according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIGS. 7 to 9 are diagrams illustrating an image driving system of thelight emitting display device according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a compensation circuit of the lightemitting display device according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an image driving method of the lightemitting display device according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a sensing method of the lightemitting display device according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 13 is a timing diagram illustrating sensing a threshold voltage ofa driving transistor in the light emitting display device according tothe embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a timing diagram illustrating sensing a mobility of a drivingtransistor in the light emitting display device according to theembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a sensing time saving effect in thelight emitting display device according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a source driver integrated circuit ofthe light emitting display device according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a touch sensing system of the lightemitting display device according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are diagrams illustrating a light emitting display panelwith an embedded touch sensor according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a driving circuit of the lightemitting display device according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a display drivingperiod and a touch driving period are temporally divided when the lightemitting display device according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure performs display driving and touch driving in a time divisionmanner;

FIG. 22 is a timing diagram illustrating display driving and touchdriving in the light emitting display device according to theembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 23 is a timing diagram illustrating display driving and touchdriving when the light emitting display device according to theembodiments of the present disclosure performs load-free driving in atouch driving period;

FIG. 24 is a timing diagram illustrating a swing circuit of a drivevoltage and a base voltage when the light emitting display deviceaccording to the embodiments of the present disclosure performsload-free driving in a touch driving period;

FIGS. 25 and 26 are diagrams illustrating an example of a configurationof a reference electrode in the light emitting display panel accordingto the embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving the lightemitting display device according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of examples or embodiments of the presentdisclosure, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in whichit is shown by way of illustration specific examples or embodiments thatcan be implemented, and in which the same reference numerals and signscan be used to designate the same or like components even when they areshown in different accompanying drawings from one another. Further, inthe following description of examples or embodiments of the presentdisclosure, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and componentsincorporated herein will be omitted when it is determined that thedescription may make the subject matter in some embodiments of thepresent disclosure rather unclear. The terms such as “including”,“having”, “containing”, “constituting” “make up of”, and “formed of”used herein are generally intended to allow other components to be addedunless the terms are used with the term “only”. As used herein, singularforms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise.

Terms, such as “first”, “second”, “A”, “B”, “(A)”, or “(B)” may be usedherein to describe elements of the present disclosure. Each of theseterms is not used to define essence, order, sequence, or number ofelements, etc., but is used merely to distinguish the correspondingelement from other elements.

When it is mentioned that a first element “is connected or coupled to”,“contacts or overlaps”, etc., a second element, it should be interpretedthat, not only can the first element “be directly connected or coupledto” or “directly contact or overlap” the second element, but a thirdelement can also be “interposed” between the first and second elements,or the first and second elements can “be connected or coupled to”,“contact or overlap”, etc., each other via a fourth element. Here, thesecond element may be included in at least one of two or more elementsthat “are connected or coupled to”, “contact or overlap”, etc., eachother.

When time relative terms, such as “after,” “subsequent to,” “next,”“before,” and the like, are used to describe processes or operations ofelements or configurations, or flows or steps in operating, processing,manufacturing methods, these terms may be used to describenon-consecutive or non-sequential processes or operations unless theterm “directly” or “immediately” is used together.

In addition, when any dimensions, relative sizes, etc., are mentioned,it should be considered that numerical values for an elements orfeatures, or corresponding information (e.g., level, range, etc.)include a tolerance or error range that may be caused by various factors(e.g., process factors, internal or external impact, noise, etc.) evenwhen a relevant description is not specified. Further, the term “may”fully encompasses all the meanings of the term “can”.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a lightemitting display device 100 according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a light emitting display device 100 according toembodiments of the present disclosure includes a light emitting displaypanel 110 in which a plurality of data lines DL and a plurality ofreference voltage lines RVL are arranged in a first direction (forexample, a column direction), a plurality of gate lines GL are arrangedin a second direction (for example, a row direction), and a plurality ofsubpixels SP formed adjacent to the plurality of data lines DL and theplurality of gate lines GL which are arranged in a matrix type, a datadriver 120 that drives the plurality of data lines DL, a gate driver 130that drives the plurality of gate lines GL, and a display controller 140that controls the data driver 120 and the gate driver 130.

The display controller 140 supplies various control signals to the datadriver 120 and the gate driver 130 and controls the data driver 120 andthe gate driver 130.

The display controller 140 starts scanning at timings which are realizedin each frame, converts input image data which is input from the outsideto correspond to a data signal format which is used in the data driver120, outputs the converted image data, and controls data driving atappropriate timings to correspond to the scanning.

The display controller 140 may be a timing controller that is used fornormal display technology or may be a control device that performs othercontrol functions in addition to the function of the timing controller.

The data driver 120 drives the plurality of data lines DL by supplying adata voltage to the plurality of data lines DL. Here, the data driver120 is also referred to as a “source driver.”

The data driver 120 may include at least one source driver integratedcircuit SDIC and drive the plurality of data lines.

The gate driver 130 sequentially drives the plurality of gate lines GLby sequentially supplying a scan signal to the plurality of gate linesGL. Here, the gate driver 130 is also referred to as a “scan driver.”

The gate driver 130 may include at least one gate driver integratedcircuit GDIC.

The gate driver 130 sequentially supplies a scan signal of an ON voltageor an OFF voltage to the plurality of gate lines GL under the control ofthe display controller 140.

When a specific gate line is opened by the gate driver 130, the datadriver 120 converts image data Data received from the display controller140 into an analog data voltage Vdata and supplies the data voltage tothe plurality of data lines DL.

The data driver 120 is located on only one side (for example, an upperside or a lower side) of the light emitting display panel 110 in FIG. 1, but may be located on both sides (for example, an upper side and alower side) of the light emitting display panel 110 depending on adriving system, a panel design system, or the like.

The gate driver 130 is located on only one side (for example, a rightside or a left side) of the light emitting display panel 110 in FIG. 1 ,but may be located on both sides (for example, a right side and a leftside) of the light emitting display panel 110 depending on a drivingsystem, a panel design system, or the like.

The display controller 140 receives various timing signals including avertical synchronization signal Vsync, a horizontal synchronizationsignal Hsync, an input data enable signal DE, and a clock signal CLK inaddition to input image data from the outside (for example, a hostsystem).

In order to control the data driver 120 and the gate driver 130, thedisplay controller 140 receives timing signals such as a verticalsynchronization signal Vsync, a horizontal synchronization signal Hsync,an input DE signal, and a clock signal CLK, generates various controlsignals, and outputs the generated control signals to the data driver120 and the gate driver 130.

For example, the display controller 140 outputs various gate controlsignals GCS including a gate start pulse GSP, a gate shift clock GSC,and a gate output enable signal GOE in order to control the gate driver130.

Here, the gate start pulse GSP controls an operation start timing of oneor more gate driver integrated circuits of the gate driver 130. The gateshift clock GSC is a clock signal which is input commonly to the one ormore gate driver integrated circuits and controls a shift timing of ascan signal (a gate pulse). The gate output enable signal GOE designatestiming information of the one or more gate driver integrated circuits.

The display controller 140 outputs various data control signals DCSincluding a source start pulse SSP, a source sampling clock SSC, and asource output enable signal SOE in order to control the data driver 120.

Here, the source start pulse SSP controls a data sampling start timingof one or more source driver integrated circuits of the data driver 120.The source sampling clock SSC is a clock signal for controlling samplingtimings of data in the one or more source driver integrated circuits.The source output enable signal SOE controls an output timing of thedata driver 120.

The data driver 120 includes at least one source driver integratedcircuit SDIC and drives the plurality of data lines.

Each source driver integrated circuit SDIC may be connected to a bondingpad of the light emitting display panel 110 in a tape automated bonding(TAB) system or a chip on glass (COG) system, may be disposed directlyon the light emitting display panel 110, or may be integrated anddisposed on the light emitting display panel 110 in some cases. Eachsource driver integrated circuit SDIC may be realized in a chip on film(COF) system in which it is mounted on a film connected to the lightemitting display panel 110.

Each source driver integrated circuit SDIC may include a shift register,a latch circuit, a digital-to-analog converter DAC, and an outputbuffer.

Each source driver integrated circuit SDIC may further include ananalog-to-digital converter ADC in some cases.

The gate driver 130 includes at least one gate driver integrated circuitGDIC.

Each gate driver integrated circuit GDIC may be connected to a bondingpad of the light emitting display panel 110 in a tape automated bonding(TAB) system or a chip on glass (COG) system, may be realized in a gatein panel (GIP) system and disposed directly on the light emittingdisplay panel 110, or may be integrated and disposed on the lightemitting display panel 110 in some cases. Each gate driver integratedcircuit GDIC may be realized in a chip on film (COF) system in which itis mounted on a film connected to the light emitting display panel 110.

Each gate driver integrated circuit GDIC includes a shift register and alevel shifter.

The light emitting display device 100 according to the embodiments ofthe present disclosure may include at least one source printed circuitboard S-PCB for circuitry connection of at least one source driverintegrated circuit SDIC and a control printed circuit board C-PCB formounting control components and various electrical devices.

At least one source driver integrated circuit SDIC may be mounted on atleast one source printed circuit board S-PCB or a film on which at leastone source driver integrated circuit SDIC is mounted may be connectedthereto.

The display controller 140 that controls operations of the data driver120, the gate driver 130, and the like, a power supply that suppliesvarious voltages or currents to the light emitting display panel 110,the data driver 120, the gate driver 130, and the like or controlsvarious voltages or currents which are supplied thereto, and the likemay be mounted on the control printed circuit board C-PCB.

At least one source printed circuit board S-PCB and the control printedcircuit board C-PCB may be connected to each other via at least oneconnection member.

Here, the connection member may be a flexible printed circuit, aflexible flat cable, or the like.

At least one source printed circuit board S-PCB and the control printedcircuit board C-PCB may be integrated and embodied as a single printedcircuit board.

Each subpixel SP which is arranged in the light emitting display panel110 includes circuit elements such as a transistor.

For example, each subpixel SP includes circuit elements such as anorganic light emitting diode OLED and a driving transistor that drivesthe organic light emitting diode OLED.

The types and numbers of circuit elements of each subpixel SP can bedetermined variously depending on functions, design systems, and thelike. In this specification, each subpixel may have a 3-transistors (3T)1-capacitor (1C) structure including three transistors and one capacitoror a 2T1C structure including two transistors and one capacitor.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a 3T1C structure of each subpixel SP inthe light emitting display panel 110 according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a 2T1C structure ofeach subpixel SP in the light emitting display panel 110 according tothe embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the light emitting display panel 110according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, each subpixel SPhaving a 3T1C structure or a 2T1C structure commonly includes an organiclight emitting diode OLED, a driving transistor DRT that drives theorganic light emitting diode OLED, a first transistor T1 that iscontrolled in accordance with a sensing signal SENSE which is a gatesignal and is electrically connected between a source node Ns of thedriving transistor DRT and the corresponding data line DL, and a storagecapacitor Cst that is electrically connected between the gate node Ngand the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT.

On the other hand, in the light emitting display panel 110 in whichsubpixels SP having a 3T1C structure as illustrated in FIG. 2 or a 2T1Cstructure as illustrated in FIG. 3 are arranged in a matrix type, asecond transistor T2 that is controlled in accordance with a scan signalSCAN which is a gate signal and transmits a reference voltage Vref whichis supplied via the reference voltage line RVL to the gate node Ng ofthe driving transistor DRT of each subpixel SP may be provided.

The voltage state of the gate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT canbe controlled via the second transistor T2 and it is possible toefficiently control driving of the subpixels and to enable variousdriving of the subpixels.

The organic light emitting diode OLED includes a first electrode (forexample, an anode electrode), an organic layer, and a second electrode(for example, a cathode electrode). An encapsulation layer may bedisposed on the second electrode (for example, the cathode electrode) ofthe organic light emitting diode OLED.

The driving transistor DRT drives the organic light emitting diode OLEDby supplying a driving current to the organic light emitting diode OLED.

In the driving transistor DRT, the source node is electrically connectedto the first electrode of the organic light emitting diode OLED and canbe electrically connected to the source node (or the drain node) of thefirst transistor T1, the drain node can be electrically connected to adrive voltage line DVL that supplies a drive voltage EVDD, and the gatenode can be electrically connected to the source node (or the drainnode) of the second transistor T2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 , in a subpixel SP having a 3T1Cstructure and a subpixel SP having a 2T1C structure, the source node Nsof the driving transistor DRT is supplied with a data voltage Vdata viathe data line DL, and the gate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT issupplied with a reference voltage Vref via the reference voltage lineRVL.

As described above, each subpixel SP of the light emitting display panel110 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure is differentfrom a general subpixel structure, in that the driving transistor DRTthat drives the organic light emitting diode OLED is supplied with thedata voltage Vdata via the source node Ns instead of the gate node Ngand is supplied with the reference voltage Vref via the gate node Nginstead of the source node Ns.

By this particular subpixel structure, the reference voltage line RVLthat transmits the reference voltage Vref corresponding to a commonvoltage is not provided for each subpixel column but for every aplurality of subpixel columns as will be described later and thus it ispossible to significantly reduce a sensing time.

On the other hand, the second transistor T2 may be provided for eachsubpixel SP. In this case, each subpixel SP has a 3T1C structure asillustrated in FIG. 2 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the second transistor T2 which is provided foreach subpixel SP is electrically connected between the gate node Ng ofthe driving transistor DRT and the reference voltage line RVL.

When the second transistor T2 is turned on, the reference voltage Vrefwhich is supplied via the reference voltage line RVL is applied to thegate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT.

As described above, by disposing the second transistor T2 that transmitsthe reference voltage Vref to the gate node Ng of the driving transistorDRT for each subpixel SP, it is possible to control the voltage of thegate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT by subpixels and thus toefficiently control driving of each subpixel.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 3 , the second transistor T2 may beprovided for every two or more subpixels SP or may be provided for eachreference voltage line RVL. In this case, each subpixel SP has a 2T1Cstructure as illustrated in FIG. 3 .

In this way, by providing the second transistor T2 that transmits thereference voltage Vref to the gate node Ng of the driving transistor DRTfor every two or more subpixels SP or for each reference voltage lineRVL instead of providing the second transistor T2 for each subpixel SP,it is possible to greatly reduce the number of transistors in the lightemitting display panel 110 and thus to enhance an aperture ratio of thelight emitting display panel 110.

On the other hand, in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the driving transistor DRT, thefirst transistor T1, and the second transistor T2 may be embodied as ann type or may be embodied as a p type.

On the other hand, the scan signal SCAN and the sensing signal SENSE maybe separate gate signals. In this case, the scan signal SCAN and thesensing signal SENSE may be supplied to the gate node of the secondtransistor T2 and the gate node of the first transistor T1 via differentgate lines, respectively.

In some cases, the scan signal SCAN and the sensing signal SENSE may bethe same gate signal. In this case, the scan signal SCAN and the sensingsignal SENSE may be commonly supplied to the gate node of the secondtransistor T2 and the gate node of the first transistor T1 via the samegate line.

The storage capacitor Cst is not a parasitic capacitor (for example, Cgsor Cgd) which is an internal capacitor between the first node and thesecond node of the driving transistor DRT but is an external capacitorwhich is intentionally designed outside the driving transistor DRT.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which signal lines DL1,DL2, DL3, DL4, and RVL in the column direction are arranged for foursubpixels SP in the light emitting display panel 110 according to theembodiments of the present disclosure.

The reference voltage line RVL is a signal line in the column directionthat transmits the reference voltage Vref corresponding to a commonvoltage and is provided for each subpixel column, but may be providedfor every two or more subpixel columns for the enhancement of drivingefficiency.

When the reference voltage line RVL is provided for every two or moresubpixel columns, one reference voltage line RVL may be provided forfour subpixel columns, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 4 .

In FIG. 4 , four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 are four subpixelsbelonging to four subpixel columns, respectively.

Here, four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 may be, for example, asubpixel that emits red light, a subpixel that emits white light, asubpixel that emits blue light, and a subpixel that emits green light.

Referring to FIG. 4 , four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 areelectrically connected to four data lines DL1, DL2, DL3, and DL4,respectively.

In this case, in the subpixel SP1, the first transistor T1 transmits thedata voltage supplied via the data line DL1 to the source node Ns of thedriving transistor DRT. In the subpixel SP2, the first transistor T1transmits the data voltage supplied via the data line DL2 to the sourcenode Ns of the driving transistor DRT. In the subpixel SP3, the firsttransistor T1 transmits the data voltage supplied via the data line DL3to the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT. In the subpixelSP4, the first transistor T1 transmits the data voltage supplied via thedata line DL4 to the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT.

Referring to FIG. 4 , four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 are commonlyconnected to one reference voltage line RVL. That is, one referencevoltage line RVL is shared by four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4.

In this case, the gate nodes Ng of the driving transistors DRT of thefour subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 are commonly supplied with thereference voltage Vref via one reference voltage line RVL.

The second transistor T2 that controls connection between the gate nodeNg of the driving transistor DRT and the reference voltage line RVL isinvolved in supply of the reference voltage Vref.

The structures of the second transistor T2 and the reference voltageline RVL for supplying the reference voltage Vref to the gate node Ng ofthe driving transistor DRT in the cases in which four subpixels SP1,SP2, SP3, and SP4 have the 3T1C structure illustrated in FIG. 2 and the2T1C structure illustrated in FIG. 3 when the reference voltage line RVLis provided for every four subpixel columns as illustrated in FIG. 4will be described below in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 .

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4having a 3T1C structure in the light emitting display panel 110according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5 , each of four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 hasthe 3T1C structure including three transistors DRT, T1, and T2 and onecapacitor Cst as illustrated in FIG. 2 .

Accordingly, when the reference voltage line RVL is provided for everyfour subpixel columns, each of four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4includes the second transistor T2 in addition to the driving transistorDRT and the first transistor T1.

The second transistors T2 included in four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, andSP4 are commonly connected to one reference voltage line RVL.

The second transistor T2 of the subpixel SP1 is connected between thegate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT of the subpixel SP1 and thereference voltage line RVL. The second transistor T2 of the subpixel SP2is connected between the gate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT ofthe subpixel SP2 and the reference voltage line RVL. The secondtransistor T2 of the subpixel SP3 is connected between the gate node Ngof the driving transistor DRT of the subpixel SP3 and the referencevoltage line RVL. The second transistor T2 of the subpixel SP4 isconnected between the gate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT of thesubpixel SP4 and the reference voltage line RVL.

On the other hand, out of four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4, thedrain node (or the source node) of the second transistor T2 of the firstsubpixel SP1 and the drain node (or the source node) of the secondtransistor T2 of the second subpixel SP2 are electrically connected toeach other and are connected to the reference voltage line RVL.

Out of four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4, the drain node (or thesource node) of the second transistor T2 of the third subpixel SP3 andthe drain node (or the source node) of the second transistor T2 of thefourth subpixel SP4 are electrically connected to each other and areconnected to the reference voltage line RVL.

With the structure illustrated in FIG. 5 , even when the referencevoltage Vref is supplied via the reference voltage line RVL, it ispossible to individually control driving of the four subpixels SP1, SP2,SP3, and SP4 by individually controlling ON and OFF of the secondtransistors T2 of the fourth subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4having a 2T1C structure in the light emitting display panel 110according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6 , each of four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 hasthe 2T1C structure including two transistors DRT and T1 and onecapacitor Cst as illustrated in FIG. 3 .

Accordingly, when the reference voltage line RVL is provided for everyfour subpixel columns, each of four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4includes the driving transistor DRT and the first transistor T1 but doesnot individually include the second transistor T2.

In this case, the reference voltage line RVL is provided for every foursubpixel columns and includes a first part RVL_I which is supplied withthe reference voltage Vref and a second part RVL_O that supplies thereference voltage Vref to the four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4.

The gate nodes Ng of the driving transistors DRT of four subpixels SP1,SP2, SP3, and SP4 are commonly connected to the second part RVL_O of onereference voltage line RVL.

The second transistor T2 which is commonly used to supply the referencevoltage Vref to the gate nodes Ng of the driving transistors DRT iselectrically connected between the first part RVL_I of one referencevoltage line RVL and the second part RVL_O of the reference voltage lineRVL.

The second transistor T2 may be provided for each reference voltage lineRVL or may be provided for each subpixel column in one reference voltageline RVL.

As described above, by disposing one second transistor T2 which iscommonly used for four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 on one referencevoltage line RVL in order to transmit the reference voltage Vref to thegate nodes Ng of the driving transistors DRT of four subpixels SP1, SP2,SP3, and SP4, all the subpixels in the light emitting display panel 110do not need to include the second transistor R2 and thus it is possibleto greatly reduce the number of second transistors T2. Accordingly, itis possible to much enhance the aperture ratio of the light emittingdisplay panel 110.

On the other hand, one second transistor T2 which is commonly used maybe considered as a transistor which is included in one of four subpixelsSP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4.

In this case, one subpixel which is considered to include the secondtransistor T2 out of four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 has a 3T1Cstructure and the other three subpixels has a 2T1C structure.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are diagrams illustrating an image driving system of thelight emitting display device 100 according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRTis supplied with a data voltage Vdata which is a variable voltagevarying depending on an image pattern, the gate node Ng of the drivingtransistor DRT is supplied with a reference voltage Vref which is aconstant voltage, and an image can be displayed using a potentialdifference Vref-Vdata at both ends of the storage capacitor Cst.

This is different from that in a general light emitting display devicein which the gate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT is supplied witha data voltage Vdata which is a variable voltage varying depending on animage pattern and the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT issupplied with a reference voltage Vref which is a constant voltage todisplay an image.

An example in which four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 are driven onthe basis of the above-mentioned image driving system will be describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 .

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, when 8 V, 4 V, 3V, and 9 V as four data voltages Vdata1, Vdata2, Vdata3, and Vdata4 aresupplied to the gate nodes Ng of the driving transistors DRT of foursubpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 and 6 V as the common reference voltageVref is supplied to the source nodes Ns of the driving transistors ofthe four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4, the potential differencesVref−Vdata1, Vref−Vdata2, Vref−Vdata3, and Vref−Vdata4 at both ends ofthe storage capacitors Cst of the four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4are made to be −2 V, 2 V, 3 V, and −3 V and thus a desired image can bedisplayed.

On the other hand, in the light emitting display device 100 according tothe embodiments of the present disclosure, as a driving time of eachsubpixel SP increases, degradation of the circuit elements such as theorganic light emitting diodes OLED and the driving transistors DRTprogresses.

Accordingly, unique characteristic values (for example, a thresholdvoltage and an electron mobility) of the circuit elements such as theorganic light emitting diodes OLED and the driving transistors DRT vary.

The degree of variation in characteristic values of the circuit elementsmay differ depending on the degrees of degradation of the circuitelements.

In this case, a deviation in characteristic values may occur in thecircuit elements and a deviation in luminance may occur in thesubpixels.

Accordingly, there may be problems in that accuracy for luminanceexpression of a subpixel will degrade or image defects will be caused.

The light emitting display device 100 according to the embodiments ofthe present disclosure provides a sensing function of sensingcharacteristic values or variations in characteristic values of thecircuit elements (such as the driving transistors and the organic lightemitting diodes) and a compensation function of compensating for adeviation in characteristic values in the circuit elements (such as thedriving transistors and the organic light emitting diodes) using thesensing result.

The light emitting display device 100 according to the embodiments ofthe present disclosure may include a compensation circuit as illustratedin FIG. 10 to provide the sensing function and the compensationfunction.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a compensation circuit of the lightemitting display device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10 , the compensation circuit of the light emittingdisplay device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure includes an analog-to-digital converter ADC that iselectrically connected to the data line DL, senses a voltage (an analogvoltage) of the data line DL, converts the sensed voltage into a sensingvalue corresponding to a digital value, and outputs sensing dataincluding the converted sensing value and a compensation unit 1000 thatreads sensing data or reads sensing data stored in a memory (notillustrated) and compensates for the characteristic values of thecircuit elements (for example, threshold voltages or mobilities of thedriving transistors and threshold voltages of the organic light emittingdiodes) in the corresponding subpixel SP using the sensing data.

The characteristic value of the driving transistor DRT or the organiclight emitting diode OLED in each subpixel can be sensed and compensatedfor using the compensation circuit. Accordingly, it is possible toprevent degradation in image quality due to deviations in characteristicvalues.

On the other hand, in the light emitting display device 100 according tothe embodiments of the present disclosure, each data line DL serves as a“data signal line” that transmits a data voltage Vdata for image drivingand can serve as a “sensing driving line” for supplying aninitialization voltage Vpres for sensing driving to the source node Nsof the driving transistor DRT and a “sensing line” for transmitting thevoltage of the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT to theanalog-to-digital converter ADC.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 10 , the compensation circuitincludes an initialization switch SPRE that is used to control whetherthe data line DL is to operate as the sensing driving line, a dataswitch PRE_SEL that is used to control whether the data line DL is tooperate as a data signal line, and a sampling switch SAM that is used tocontrol whether the data line DL is to operate as a sensing line.

The sampling switch SAM is electrically connected between the data lineDL and the analog-to-digital converter ADC.

The sampling switch SAM is turned on to connect the data line DL to theanalog-to-digital converter ADC when a specific time passes or aspecific timing comes in.

Here, the specific time may be a selected time in which the voltage ofthe data line DL is predicted to become a voltage state in which thecharacteristic values of the driving transistor DRT or the organic lightemitting diode OLED are reflected with the progress of sensing driving.

The specific timing may be a timing at which the voltage of the dataline DL has been monitored to become a voltage state in which thecharacteristic values of the driving transistor DRT or the organic lightemitting diode OLED are reflected with the progress of sensing driving.

The initialization switch SPRE is electrically connected between thedata line DL and an initialization voltage supply node Npres.

The initialization switch SPRE is turned on in an initialization step ofa sensing driving section to supply the initialization voltage Vpresfrom the initialization voltage supply node Npres to the data line DLand to supply the initialization voltage Vpres to the source node Ns ofthe driving transistor DRT via the turned-on first transistor T1.

The data switch PRE_SEL is electrically connected between the data lineDL and a data voltage supply node Ndata.

The data switch PRE_SEL is turned on in an image driving section andsupply the data voltage Vdata corresponding to an image signal from thedata voltage supply node Ndata to the data line DL.

By controlling ON and OFF of the above-mentioned three switches PRE_SEL,SPRE, and SAM, the data line DL can operate as one of the data signalline, the sensing driving line, and the sensing line depending on thesituation.

On the other hand, a line capacitor Cdl is present in the data line DL.The line capacitor Cdl is used to sense the characteristic values of thedriving transistor DRT.

Referring to FIG. 10 , the compensation circuit may further include areference switch RPRE that is used to control whether the referencevoltage Vref is to be supplied to the reference voltage line RVL.

The reference switch RPRE controls connection between the referencevoltage supply node Nprer which is supplied with the reference voltageVre and the reference voltage line RVL.

The reference switch RPRE can control the voltage state of the gate nodeNg of the driving transistor DRT at the time of display driving (imagedriving) and/or sensing driving.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an image driving method of the lightemitting display device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 11 , the image driving method of the light emittingdisplay device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure includes a first step S1110 of supplying a reference voltageVref which is supplied via the reference voltage line RVL to the gatenode of the driving transistor DRT and supplying a data voltage Vdatawhich is supplied via the data line DL to the source node Ns of thedriving transistor DRT, a second step S1120 of causing the gate node Ngand the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT to float, and athird step S1130 of causing the organic light emitting diode OLED toemit light.

According to the image driving method, the data voltage Vdata which is avariable voltage varying depending on an image pattern is supplied tothe source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT, and the referencevoltage Vref which is a constant voltage is supplied to the gate node Ngof the driving transistor DRT, and an image can be displayed using apotential difference Vref-Vdata between both ends of the storagecapacitor Cst.

On the other hand, in the first step S1110, a sensing signal SENSE of aturn-on level is supplied to the gate node of the first transistor T1connected between the data line DL and the source node Ns of the drivingtransistor DRT to turn on the first transistor T1, and the data switchPRE_SEL which is electrically connected between the data line DL and thedata voltage supply node Ndata is turned on to supply the data voltageVdata supplied via the data line DL to the source node Ns of the drivingtransistor DRT.

In the first step S1110, a scan signal SCAN of a turn-on level issupplied to the gate node of the second transistor T2 which is connectedbetween the reference voltage line RVL and the gate node Ng of thediving transistor DRT to turn on the second transistor T2, and thereference switch RPRE is turned on to supply the reference voltage Vrefsupplied via the reference voltage line RVL to the gate node Ng of thedriving transistor DRT.

In the second step S1120, the first transistor T1 or the data switchPRE_SEL is turned off to cause the source node Ns of the drivingtransistor DRT to float, and the second transistor T2 is turned off tocause the gate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT to float.

In the second step S1120, since the gate node Ng and the source node Nsof the driving transistor DRT float, the potential difference Vref-Vdatabetween the gate node Ng and the source node Ns of the drivingtransistor DRT is maintained and the voltages of the gate node Ng andthe source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT increase together.

When the voltage of the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT andthe increased voltage of the source node Ns of the driving transistorDRT reaches a voltage state in which a current can be supplied to theorganic light emitting diode OLED (a state in which the voltage ishigher than a voltage obtained by adding the threshold voltage of theorganic light emitting diode OLED to the base voltage EVSS), the thirdstep S1130 is performed. That is, a current is supplied to the organiclight emitting diode OLED to cause the organic light emitting diode OLEDto emit light.

In the first step S1110, the data voltage Vdata supplied to the sourcenode Ns of the driving transistor DRT has to be lower than the thresholdvoltage of the organic light emitting diode OLED.

Accordingly, the organic light emitting diode OLED does not emit lightin the first step S1110, the organic light emitting diode OLED emitslight through the second step S1120, that is, when the voltage of thesource node Ns of the driving transistor DRT increases, and thus imagereproducibility can be improved.

In the third step S1130, luminance which is displayed in the subpixel SPwith emission of light from the organic light emitting diode OLED may beluminance corresponding to the difference Vref-Vdata between thereference voltage Vref supplied to the gate node Ng of the drivingtransistor DRT and the data voltage Vdata supplied to the source node Nsof the driving transistor DRT.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a sensing method of the lightemitting display device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 12 , the sensing method in the light emitting displaydevice 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosureincludes an initialization step S1210, a tracking step S1220, and asampling step S1230.

In the initialization step S1210, the reference switch RPRE and theinitialization switch SPRE are turned on to supply the reference voltageVref which is supplied via the reference voltage line RVL to the gatenode Ng of the driving transistor DRT and to supply the initializationvoltage Vpres which is supplied via the data line DL to the source nodeNs of the driving transistor DRT.

In the tracking step S1220, the source node Ns of the driving transistorDRT is caused to float and thus the voltage of the source node Ns of thedriving transistor DRT increases.

In the tracking step S1220, the voltage of the source node Ns of thedriving transistor DRT increases and a voltage state in which thecharacteristic values (for example, a threshold voltage and a mobility)of the driving transistor DRT or the characteristic values (for example,a threshold voltage) of the organic light emitting diode OLED arereflected is tracked.

When the voltage state in which the characteristic values (for example,a threshold voltage and a mobility) of the driving transistor DRT or thecharacteristic values (for example, a threshold voltage) of the organiclight emitting diode OLED are reflected is achieved in the tracking stepS1220, the sampling step S1230 is performed.

In the sampling step S1230, the analog-to-digital converter ADC and thedata line DL are electrically connected. Accordingly, theanalog-to-digital converter ADC senses the voltage of the data line DL.

According to this sensing method, by supplying the initializationvoltage Vpres to the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT andsupplying the reference voltage Vref to the gate node of the drivingtransistor DRT to achieve a sensing driving initialized state, makingthe source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT along with the dataline DL be in a desired voltage state, and sensing the voltage via thedata line DL for each subpixel SP, sampling processes for the subpixelsSP can be simultaneously performed. Accordingly, it is possible togreatly shorten the total sensing time of the light emitting displaypanel 110.

On the other hand, in the initialization step S1210, the firsttransistor T1 which is connected between the data line DL and the sourcenode Ns of the driving transistor DRT is turned on using the sensingsignal SENSE of a turn-on level, the initialization switch SPRE which iselectrically connected between the data line DL and the initializationvoltage supply node Npres is turned on, and the initialization voltageVpres which is supplied via the data line DL is supplied to the sourcenode Ns of the driving transistor DRT.

In the initialization step S1210, the second transistor T2 which isconnected between the reference voltage line RVL and the gate node Ng ofthe driving transistor DRT is turned on and the reference voltage Vrefwhich is supplied via the reference voltage line RVL is supplied to thegate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT.

In the tracking step S1220, the initialization switch SPRE is turned offto cause the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT to float andthe voltages of the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRT and thedata line DL increase from the initialization voltage Vpres.

In the sampling step S1230, the sampling switch SAM which iselectrically connected between the analog-to-digital converter ADC andthe data line DL is turned on to electrically connect theanalog-to-digital converter ADC to the data line DL.

Accordingly, the analog-to-digital converter ADC senses the voltage ofthe data line DL.

In the sampling step S1230, a sampling time point, that is, a turn-ontime point of the sampling switch SAM, varies depending on a sensingdriving type.

For example, in the case of sensing driving for sensing the thresholdvoltage of the driving transistor DRT, the sampling time point is setafter a time point at which the voltage of the source node Ns of thedriving transistor DRT has increased and has been saturated.

In the case of sensing driving for sensing the mobility of the drivingtransistor DRT, the sampling time point is set after a selected time haselapsed from a floating time point because only a time in which avoltage increase (a voltage change) of the source node Ns of the drivingtransistor DRT can be obtained has only to elapse from the floating timepoint.

Referring to FIG. 12 , a characteristic value compensating step S1240 ofcompensating for the threshold voltage or the mobility of the drivingtransistor DRT on the basis of the voltage sensed by theanalog-to-digital converter ADC is performed after the sampling stepS1230.

In the characteristic value compensating step S1240, the thresholdvoltage or the mobility of the driving transistor DRT is detected on thebasis of the sensed voltage, a threshold voltage deviation or a mobilitydeviation is acquired, and a compensation value for removing thedeviation is calculated.

The compensation unit 1000 changes image data which is to be supplied tothe corresponding subpixel SP on the basis of the calculatedcompensation value.

When the source driver integrated circuit SDIC converts the changedimage data into a data voltage and outputs the converted data voltage,compensation for the threshold voltage or the mobility of the drivingtransistor DRT is actually performed.

FIG. 13 is a timing diagram illustrating sensing a threshold voltage ofa driving transistor DRT in the light emitting display device 100according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 13 , in the initialization step S1210 of a thresholdvoltage sensing driving section, the first transistor T1 which isconnected between the data line DL and the source node Ns of the drivingtransistor DRT is turned on using the sensing signal SENE of a turn-onlevel, the initialization switch SPRE which is electrically connectedbetween the data line DL and the initialization voltage supply nodeNpres is turned on, and the initialization voltage Vpres which issupplied via the data line DL is supplied to the source node Ns of thedriving transistor DRT.

In the initialization step S1210, the reference switch RPRE is turned onand the second transistor T2 which is connected between the referencevoltage line RVL and the gate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT isturned on using the scan signal SCAN of a turn-on level to supply thereference voltage Vref which is supplied via the reference voltage lineRVL to the gate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT.

Referring to FIG. 13 , in the tracking step S1220, the initializationswitch SPRE is turned off to cause the source node Ns of the drivingtransistor DRT to float.

Accordingly, the voltage of the source node Ns of the driving transistorDRT increases from the initialization voltage Vpres. At this time, thevoltage of the data line DL increases together.

The voltage increase widths of the source node Ns of the drivingtransistor DRT and the data line DL are reduced over time and thevoltages thereof are saturated.

When the voltages of the source node Ns of the driving transistor DRTand the data line DL are saturated, the sampling step S1230 isperformed.

Referring to FIG. 13 , when the sampling switch SAM is turned on at thesampling time point set after the voltages of the source node Ns of thedriving transistor DRT and the data line DL have been saturated, theanalog-to-digital converter ADC and the data line DL are electricallyconnected.

Accordingly, the analog-to-digital converter ADC senses the voltage ofthe data line DL.

When the threshold voltage Vth of the driving transistor DRT is apositive threshold voltage, the voltage Vsen sensed by theanalog-to-digital converter ADC is a voltage Vref-Vth which is lower bythe threshold voltage Vth of the driving transistor DRT than thereference voltage Vref supplied to the gate node Ng of the drivingtransistor DRT.

When the threshold voltage Vth of the driving transistor DRT is anegative threshold voltage, the voltage Vsen sensed by theanalog-to-digital converter ADC is a voltage Vref+Vth which is higher bythe threshold voltage Vth of the driving transistor DRT than thereference voltage Vref supplied to the gate node Ng of the drivingtransistor DRT.

FIG. 14 is a timing diagram illustrating sensing a mobility of thedriving transistor DRT in the light emitting display device 100according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 14 , in the initialization step S1210 of a mobilitysensing driving section, the first transistor T1 which is connectedbetween the data line DL and the source node Ns of the drivingtransistor DRT is turned on using the sensing signal SENSE of a turn-onlevel and the initialization switch SPRE which is electrically connectedbetween the data line DL and the initialization voltage supply nodeNpres is turned on to supply the initialization voltage Vpres which issupplied via the data line DL to the source node Ns of the drivingtransistor DRT.

In the initialization step S1210, the reference switch RPRE is turned onand the second transistor T2 which is connected between the referencevoltage line RVL and the gate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT isturned on using the scan signal SCAN of a turn-on level to supply thereference voltage Vref which is supplied via the reference voltage lineRVL to the gate node Ng of the driving transistor DRT.

Referring to FIG. 14 , in the tracking step S1220, the initializationswitch SPRE is turned off to cause the source node Ns of the drivingtransistor DRT to float, and the scan signal SCAN of the secondtransistor T2 is switched to a turn-off voltage level to cause the gatenode Ng of the driving transistor DRT to float.

Accordingly, the voltages of the gate node Ng and the source node Ns ofthe driving transistor DRT increase from the initialization voltageVpres. At this time, the voltage of the data line DL increases together.

After the voltages of the gate node Ng and the source node Ns of thedriving transistor DRT have increased for a selected time Δt, thesampling switch SAM is turned on.

Description will be continued with reference to FIG. 14 .

After the voltages of the gate node Ng and the source node Ns of thedriving transistor DRT have increased for a selected time Δt, thesampling switch SAM is turned on.

Accordingly, the analog-to-digital converter ADC is electricallyconnected to the data line DL and senses the voltage of the data lineDL.

The compensation unit 1000 can calculate a voltage increase rate (agraph slope) by calculating a difference between the voltage Vsen sensedby the analog-to-digital converter ADC and the voltage Vpres beforebeing increased as a voltage increase ΔV and dividing the calculatedvoltage increase Δt by the time Δt of the voltage increasing section.

The compensation unit 1000 can acquire the mobility (the currentcapability) of the driving transistor DRT from the calculated voltageincrease rate.

Here, since the time Δt is fixed, the voltage change and the voltageincrease rate are proportional to each other. The voltage increase rateis proportional to the mobility (the current capability) of the drivingtransistor DRT.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a sensing time saving effect in thelight emitting display device 100 according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 15 , even when the reference voltage line RVL isshared by four subpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 as described above, theanalog-to-digital converter ADC can be electrically connected to fourdata lines DL1, DL2, DL3, and DL4 corresponding to the four subpixelsSP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4.

Accordingly, it is possible to simultaneously sense the voltages of thedata lines by simultaneously performing sensing driving on foursubpixels SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 and simultaneously turning on foursampling switches SAM1, SAM2, SAM3, and SAM4. Accordingly, it ispossible to greatly shorten the total sensing time of the light emittingdisplay panel 110.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a source driver integrated circuitSDIC of the light emitting display device 100 according to theembodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 16 , the source driver integrated circuit SDIC of thelight emitting display device 100 according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure includes a shift register 1610, a first latch 1620, asecond latch 1630, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 1640, and amulti-channel output circuit 1650 that includes an output buffer foroutputting the data voltage Vdata to a plurality of channelscorresponding to the plurality of data lines DL as basic elements fordata driving.

In addition, the source driver integrated circuit SDIC of the lightemitting display device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure may output the reference voltage Vref to the referencevoltage line RVL.

By controlling ON and OFF of the above-mentioned three switch elementsPRE_SEL, SPRE, and SAM, the data switch PRE_SEL, the initializationswitch SPRE, and the sampling switch SAM can be included as three switchelements allowing the data line DL to operate as one of the data signalline, the sensing driving line, and the sensing line.

Each source driver integrated circuit SDIC which is included in the datadriver 120 of the light emitting display device 100 according to theembodiments of the present disclosure includes an analog-to-digitalconverter ADC that can be connected to a plurality of data lines DL viathe sample switches SAM.

Here, the sampling circuit 1660 including the sampling switches SAMconnected to the plurality of data lines DL, respectively, may furtherinclude a sample and hold circuit between the sampling switch SAM andthe analog-to-digital converter ADC.

By using the source driver integrated circuit SDIC, image driving andsensing driving can be provided in a subpixel with the subpixelsstructure and the signal line structure according to the embodiments ofthe present disclosure described above.

According to the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure,it is possible to greatly shorten the sensing time for the subpixels.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possibleto provide the light emitting display panel 110 with the subpixelstructure and the signal line structure that can greatly shorten thesensing time for the subpixels, the light emitting display device 100,and the image driving method and the sensing method thereof.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possibleto provide the light emitting display panel 110 with the subpixelstructure and the signal line structure that can greatly shorten thesensing time for the subpixels and increase an aperture ratio, the lightemitting display device 100, and the image driving method and thesensing method thereof.

The light emitting display device 100 according to the embodiments ofthe present disclosure can provide a function of sensing a user's touch.A touch sensing function will be described below.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a touch sensing system of the lightemitting display device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 17 , the light emitting display device 100 accordingto the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a light emittingdisplay panel 110 in which a plurality of reference electrodes REelectrically connected to a plurality of reference voltage lines RVL,respectively, are arranged, data driving circuits SDC that drive aplurality of data lines DL, gate driving circuits GDIC that drive aplurality of gate lines GL, and reference electrode driving circuits RDCthat drive one or more of the plurality of reference electrodes RE viaone or more of the plurality of reference voltage lines RVL, detect asignal using one or more reference electrodes RE, and outputs touchsensing data.

Referring to FIG. 17 , the light emitting display device 100 may furtherinclude a touch power integrated circuit 1710 that supplies a signal ofwhich a voltage level is variable to the reference electrode drivingcircuits RDC and a touch controller 1720 that receives touch sensingdata from the reference electrode driving circuits RDC and detectswhether there is a touch and/or a touch position.

The data driving circuits SDC constitute the data driver 120.

The data driving circuits SDC and the reference electrode drivingcircuits RDC may be separately configured. Unlike this, one or more datadriving circuits SDC and one or more reference electrode drivingcircuits RDC may be integrated into one circuit and embodied as anintegrated driving circuit SRIC.

The data driving circuits SDC and the reference electrode drivingcircuits RDC or the integrated driving circuit SRIC may be connected tothe light emitting display panel 110, for example, in a chip on film(COF) type. In this case, the data driving circuits SDC and thereference electrode driving circuits RDC or the integrated drivingcircuit SRIC are mounted on a circuit film SF and one end of the circuitfilm SF is connected to the light emitting display panel 110. The otherend of the circuit film SF is connected to the source printed circuitboard S-PCB.

The source printed circuit board S-PCB is electrically connected to thedisplay controller 140, the touch power integrated circuit 1710, and thetouch controller 1720, and the like directly or via another printedcircuit board.

On the other hand, the gate driver 130 includes gate driving circuitsGDIC, and the gate driving circuits GDIC may be connected to the lightemitting display panel 110, for example, in a chip on film (COF) type.In this case, the gate driving circuits GDIC is mounted on a circuitfilm GF and one end of the circuit film GF is connected to the lightemitting display panel 110.

On the other hand, a plurality of reference electrodes RE which areembedded and arranged in the light emitting display panel 110 serves tosupply a first reference voltage Vref1 for display driving to thesubpixels SP.

The plurality of reference electrodes RE which are embedded and arrangedin the light emitting display panel 110 serves as touch sensors (touchelectrodes) that sense a user's touch thereof with a finger or a pen.

For the purpose of two functions (display driving electrodes and touchsensors) of the plurality of reference electrodes RE which are embeddedand arranged in the light emitting display panel 110, the referenceelectrode driving circuits RDC can output two reference voltages Vref.

The reference electrode driving circuits RDC can output the firstreference voltage Vref1 for display driving and output a secondreference voltage Vref2 different from the first reference voltage Vref1for touch driving.

The reference voltage Vref which has been described above with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 16 corresponds to the first reference voltage Vref1 fordisplay driving.

For touch driving, the reference electrode driving circuits RDC supplythe second reference voltage Vref2 to one or more reference electrodesRE, then detect a signal from the one or more reference electrodes RE,and output sensing data on the basis of the detected signal.

As described above, each subpixel SP includes a light emitting element,a driving transistor DRT that drives the light emitting element, and afirst transistor T1 that is controlled between ON and OFF in accordancewith a sensing signal SENSE and is electrically connected between thesource node or the drain node of the driving transistor DRT and the dataline DL. Here, the light emitting element may be an organic lightemitting diode OLED, a light emitting diode LED, or a quantum dot lightemitting diode.

In the light emitting display panel 110, a second transistor T2 that iscontrolled between ON and OFF in accordance with a scan signal SCAN andis electrically connected between the reference electrode RE and thegate node of the driving transistor DRT may be further provided.

The second transistor T2 may be provided for each subpixel SP or may beprovided for every two or more subpixels SP.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are diagrams illustrating a partial area of a lightemitting display panel 110 with an embedded touch sensor according tothe embodiments of the present disclosure.

Each of the plurality of reference electrodes RE can overlap two or moresubpixels SP.

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate areas in which four reference electrodes RE1to RE4 are arranged, where each of the four reference electrodes RE1 toRE4 overlaps eight subpixels SP arranged in two rows and four columns.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , out of four reference electrodes RE1 toRE4, a first reference electrode RE1 and a second reference electrodeRE2 which are arranged in a first column are electrically connected to afirst reference voltage line RVL1 and a second reference voltage lineRVL2, respectively. A third reference electrode RE3 and a fourthreference electrode RE4 which are arranged in a second column areelectrically connected to a third reference voltage line RVL3 and afourth reference voltage line RVL4, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , the first reference voltage line RVL1 isconnected to the first reference electrode RE1 at a first main contactpoint MC1. The second reference voltage line RVL2 is connected to thesecond reference electrode RE2 at a second main contact point MC2. Thethird reference voltage line RVL3 is connected to the third referenceelectrode RE3 at a third main contact point MC3. The fourth referencevoltage line RVL4 is connected to the fourth reference electrode RE4 ata fourth main contact point MC4.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , the first reference electrode RE1 whichis connected to the first reference voltage line RVL1 at the first maincontact point MC1 is electrically connected to the drain node (or thesource node) of the second transistor T2 in all or some of eightsubpixels SP11, SP12, SP13, SP14, SP21, SP22, SP23, and SP24 which arearranged to overlap the area of the first reference electrode RE1 at subcontact points (for example, SC11, SC13, SC21, and SC23).

In the structure illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 , one second transistorT2 is provided for every two subpixels SP. The reference voltage Vref issupplied to the first reference electrode RE1 in contact with the firstreference voltage line RVL1 and is transmitted to four sub contactpoints (for example, SC11, SC13, SC21, and SC23) in contact with thefirst reference electrode RE1.

The reference voltage Vref supplied to fourth sub contact points (forexample, SC11, SC13, SC21, and SC23) is transmitted to the gate nodes ofthe driving transistors DRT in four subpixels SP11, SP13, SP21, and SP23via four turned-on second transistors T2 and is also transmitted to thegate nodes of the driving transistors DRT in the other four subpixelsSP12, SP14, SP22, and SP24.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , the second reference electrode RE2 whichis connected to the second reference voltage line RVL2 at the secondmain contact point MC2 is electrically connected to the drain node (orthe source node) of the second transistor T2 in all or some of eightsubpixels SP31, SP32, SP33, SP34, SP41, SP42, SP43, and SP44 which arearranged to overlap the area of the second reference electrode RE2 atsub contact points (for example, SC31, SC33, SC41, and SC43).

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , the third reference electrode RE3 whichis connected to the third reference voltage line RVL3 at the third maincontact point MC3 is electrically connected to the drain node (or thesource node) of the second transistor T2 in all or some of eightsubpixels SP15, SP16, SP17, SP18, SP25, SP26, SP27, and SP28 which arearranged to overlap the area of the third reference electrode RE3 at subcontact points (for example, SC15, SC17, SC25, and SC27).

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , the fourth reference electrode RE4 whichis connected to the fourth reference voltage line RVL4 at the fourthmain contact point MC4 is electrically connected to the drain node (orthe source node) of the second transistor T2 in all or some of eightsubpixels SP35, SP36, SP37, SP38, SP45, SP46, SP47, and SP48 which arearranged to overlap the area of the fourth reference electrode RE4 atsub contact points (for example, SC35, SC37, SC45, and SC47).

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , the second reference voltage line RVL2overlaps the first reference electrode RE1 and is insulated from thefirst reference electrode RE1 in the light emitting display panel 110.The fourth reference voltage line RVL4 overlaps the third referenceelectrode RE3 and is insulated from the third reference electrode RE3 inthe light emitting display panel 110.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , out of four reference electrodes RE1 toRE4, the first reference electrode RE1 and the second referenceelectrode RE2 which are arranged in the first column overlap four datalines DL1 to DL4. The third reference electrode RE3 and the fourthreference electrode RE4 which are arranged in the second column overlapfour data lines DL5 to DL8.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , out of four reference electrodes RE1 toRE4, the first reference electrode RE1 and the third reference electrodeRE3 which are arranged in the first row overlap two gate lines GL1 a andGL1 b for transmitting a scan signal SCAN1 and a sensing signal SENSE1to the first subpixel row and two gate lines GL2 a and GL2 b fortransmitting a scan signal SCAN2 and a sensing signal SENSE2 to thesecond subpixel row. The second reference electrode RE2 and the fourthreference electrode RE4 which are arranged in the second row overlap twogate lines GL3 a and GL3 b for transmitting a scan signal SCAN3 and asensing signal SENSE3 to the third subpixel row and two gate lines GL4 aand GL4 b for transmitting a scan signal SCAN4 and a sensing signalSENSE4 to the fourth subpixel row.

On the other hand, the scan signal and the sensing signal may besupplied via the same gate line. In this case, the first referenceelectrode RE1 and the third reference electrode RE3 which are arrangedin the first row overlap one gate line for transmitting a scan signalSCAN1 and a sensing signal SENSE1 to the first subpixel row and one gateline for transmitting a scan signal SCAN2 and a sensing signal SENSE2 tothe second subpixel row. The second reference electrode RE2 and thefourth reference electrode RE4 which are arranged in the second rowoverlap one gate line for transmitting a scan signal SCAN3 and a sensingsignal SENSE3 to the third subpixel row and one gate line fortransmitting a scan signal SCAN4 and a sensing signal SENSE4 to thefourth subpixel row.

The arrangement and structure of the second transistor T2 will bedescribed below again.

Each of the plurality of reference electrodes RE overlap subpixels SP inX rows and Y columns, where X and Y are natural numbers equal to orgreater than 2. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 , X=2 andY=4 are set.

In the areas of each of the plurality of reference electrodes RE, secondtransistors T2 equal to or greater than one and less than Y are arrangedfor every X rows. The drain node or the source node of the secondtransistor T2 is connected to the corresponding the reference electrodeRE. The source node or the drain node of the second transistor T2 isconnected to the gate nodes of two or more driving transistors DRT.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 , four reference voltage lines RVL1 to RVL4are arranged in parallel to the data lines DL1 to DL8.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a driving circuit SRIC of the lightemitting display device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 20 , a driving circuit SRIC of the light emittingdisplay device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure includes a data driving circuit SDC that supplies a datavoltage Vdata to a plurality of data lines DL which are arranged in thelight emitting display panel 110 in a first driving period and areference electrode driving circuit RDC that supplies a first referencevoltage Vref1 to a plurality of reference electrodes RE which arearranged in the light emitting display panel 110 in the first drivingperiod and supplies a second reference voltage Vref2 different from thefirst reference voltage Vref1 to one or more of the plurality ofreference electrodes RE in a second driving period different from thefirst driving period.

The first driving period is a display driving period (which may be animage driving period for displaying an image or may be a sensing periodfor sensing a threshold voltage or a mobility) and the second drivingperiod may be a touch driving period.

The reference electrode driving circuit RDC includes a first multiplexercircuit MUX1, a plurality of sensing units SU1, SU2, . . . , a secondmultiplexer circuit MUX2, and an analog-to-digital converter ADC.

The first multiplexer circuit MUX1 can select a reference electrode REwhich is to be connected to the plurality of sensing units SU1, SU2, . .. .

Each of the plurality of sensing units SU1, SU2, . . . includes a chargeamplifier CAMP, an integrator INTG, and a sample and hold circuit SHA.

The second multiplexer circuit MUX2 selects one of the plurality ofsensing units SU1, SU2, . . . and connects the selected sensing unit tothe analog-to-digital converter ADC.

The analog-to-digital converter ADC receives an integral value of theintegrator INTG and converts the integral value into a sensing valuecorresponding to a digital value.

The reference electrode driving circuit RDC transmits sensing dataincluding the sensing value to the touch controller 1720.

The reference electrode driving circuit RDC supplies the first referencevoltage Vref1 to the plurality of reference electrodes RE in the firstdriving period.

In the first driving period, the first reference voltage Vref1 which istransmitted (supplied) to the reference electrode RE via the referencevoltage line RVL is divided and supplied to the gate nodes of thedriving transistors DRT in two or more subpixels SP overlapping thereference electrode RE.

In the second driving period different from the first driving period,the reference electrode driving circuit RDC supplies the secondreference voltage Vref2 different from the first reference voltage Vref1to one or more of the plurality of reference electrodes TE.

In the second driving period, the second reference voltage Vref2 issupplied to the reference electrode RE via the reference voltage lineRVL, but is not supplied to the gate node of the driving transistor DRTin two or more subpixels SP overlapping the reference electrode RE.

On the other hand, in the above description, display driving and touchdriving are temporally divided and performed at different timings, butdisplay driving and touch driving may be simultaneously performed. Thatis, a touch may be sensed at the same time as displaying an image.

For simultaneous driving, while display driving and touch driving arebeing simultaneously performed, the second reference voltage Vref2 issupplied to the reference electrodes RE and all signals such as the datavoltage Vdata supplied to the data lines DL, the gate signals SCAN andSENSE supplied to the gate lines GL, the drive voltage EVDD, and thebase voltage EVSS can be modulated on the basis of signalcharacteristics (such as a frequency, a phase, and amplitude) of thesecond reference voltage Vref2.

For example, for simultaneous driving, the ground voltage supplied tothe light emitting display panel 110 may swing to correspond to thesecond reference voltage Vref2 or reference gamma voltages which areused for a digital-to-analog conversion process of the data driver 120may swing to correspond to the second reference voltage Vref2.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a display drivingperiod D and a touch driving period T are temporally divided when thelight emitting display device 100 according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure performs display driving and touch driving in a timedivision manner.

Referring to FIG. 21 , the light emitting display device 100 can performdisplay driving for displaying an image and touch driving for sensing atouch at different timings. This driving system is referred to as atime-division driving system.

In the time-division driving system, a display driving period D in whichdisplay driving is performed and a touch driving period T in which touchdriving is performed may be time sections divided in one frame.

In Case 1, one frame time is divided into two time sections, and onedisplay driving period D and one touch driving period T are allocated totwo divided time sections.

In Case 2, one frame time is divided into four time sections, and twodisplay driving periods D and two touch driving periods T arealternately allocated to four divided time sections.

In Case 3, one frame time is divided into five or more time sections,and three or more (or two or more) display driving periods D and two ormore (or three or more) touch driving periods T are alternatelyallocated to five or more divided time sections.

FIGS. 22 and 23 are timing diagrams illustrating display driving andtouch driving in the light emitting display device 100 according to theembodiments of the present disclosure.

In the following description, the first driving period is also referredto as a display driving period (which may be an image driving period fordisplaying an image or may be a sensing period for sensing a thresholdvoltage or a mobility) and the second driving period is also referred toas a touch driving period.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23 , in the display driving period D, the datavoltage Vdata for displaying an image is supplied to a plurality of datalines DL. A scan signal SCAN and a sensing signal SENSE are supplied toa plurality of gate lines GL.

The scan signal SCAN and the sensing signal SENSE have a turn-on levelvoltage at selected timings and have a turn-off level voltage at theother timings.

The turn-on level voltage of the scan signal SCAN is a voltage that canturn on the second transistor T2 and may be a high-level voltage Vgh,for example, when the second transistor T2 is of an N type. The turn-offlevel voltage of the scan signal SCAN is a voltage that can turn off thesecond transistor T2 and may be a low-level voltage Vgl, for example,when the second transistor T2 is of an N type.

The turn-on level voltage of the sensing signal SENSE is a voltage thatcan turn on the first transistor T1 and may be a high-level voltage Vgh,for example, when the first transistor T1 is of an N type. The turn-offlevel voltage of the sensing signal SENSE is a voltage that can turn offthe first transistor T1 and may be a low-level voltage Vgl, for example,when the first transistor T1 is of an N type.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23 , in the display driving period D, thefirst reference voltage Vref1 is supplied to the plurality of referenceelectrodes RE.

The first reference voltage Vref1 may be a DC voltage of a constantvoltage level.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23 , in the display driving period D, thedrive voltage EVDD is a DC voltage with a first drive voltage value Vdd1and the base voltage EVSS may be a DC voltage with a first base voltagevalue Vss1.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23 , in the touch driving period T, the secondreference voltage Vref2 different from the first reference voltage Vref1is supplied to one or more reference electrodes RE which is to be sensedout of the plurality of reference electrodes RE.

The second reference voltage Vref2 may be a signal that swings with aselected amplitude ΔVt. This second reference voltage Vref2 is referredto as an AC signal, a modulation signal or a pulse signal.

The second reference voltage Vref2 has a constant frequency.

Referring to FIG. 22 , in the touch driving period T, the data lines DLwhich are not directly associated with touch driving have a voltagestate in which a voltage level is not variable (ΔVd=0). In the touchdriving period T, the gate lines GL which are not directly associatedwith touch driving have a voltage state in which a voltage level is notvariable (ΔVg=0). In the touch driving period T, the drive voltage linesDVL which are not directly associated with touch driving have a voltagestate in which a voltage level is not variable (ΔVdd=0). In the touchdriving period T, the cathode electrodes which are not directlyassociated with touch driving have a voltage state in which a voltagelevel is not variable (ΔVss=0).

According to this configuration, in the touch driving period T, thereference electrode RE which is supplied with the second referencevoltage Vref2 can form parasitic capacitance with the data line DL, thegate line GL, the drive voltage line DVL, and the cathode electrode. Theparasitic capacitance causes distortion of a touch sensing value, an RCdelay increase, and the like and decreases touch sensitivity.

In order to prevent such parasitic capacitance, the light emittingdisplay device 100 can perform load-free driving.

Referring to FIG. 23 , in load-free driving, all or some of theplurality of data lines DL are supplied with a first load-free signalDATA_LFDS in which one or more of a frequency, a phase, and an amplitudecorresponds to the second reference voltage Vref2 in the touch drivingperiod T.

The first load-free signal DATA_LFDS has an amplitude ΔVd=ΔVtcorresponding to the second reference voltage Vref2.

In load-free driving, all or some of the plurality of gate lines GL aresupplied with a second load-free signal GATE_LFDS in which one or moreof a frequency, a phase, and an amplitude corresponds to the secondreference voltage Vref2 in the touch driving period T.

The second load-free signal GATE_LFDS has an amplitude ΔVg=ΔVtcorresponding to the second reference voltage Vref2.

In load-free driving, all or some of the plurality of drive voltagelines DVL are supplied with a third load-free signal EVDD LFDS in whichone or more of a frequency, a phase, and an amplitude corresponds to thesecond reference voltage Vref2 in the touch driving period T.

The third load-free signal EVDD LFDS swings between a first drivevoltage value Vdd1 and a second drive voltage value Vdd2 and has anamplitude ΔVdd=ΔVt corresponding to the second reference voltage Vref2.

In load-free driving, the cathode electrodes are supplied with a fourthload-free signal EVSS_LFDS in which one or more of a frequency, a phase,and an amplitude corresponds to the second reference voltage Vref2 inthe touch driving period T.

The fourth load-free signal EVSS_LFDS swings between a first basevoltage value Vss1 and a second base voltage value Vss2 and has anamplitude ΔVss=ΔVt corresponding to the second reference voltage Vref2.

On the other hand, according to load-free driving, when the referenceelectrodes RE which are to be sensed are supplied with the secondreference voltage Vref2, the other reference electrodes RE which are notto be sensed are supplied with a fifth load-free signal RE LFDS in whichone or more of a frequency, a phase, and an amplitude corresponds to thesecond reference voltage Vref2 in the touch driving period T.

The fifth load-free signal RE LFDS has an amplitude ΔVt corresponding tothe second reference voltage Vref2.

The operations of turning on and off the first transistor T1 and thesecond transistor T2 will be described below again in association withload-free driving.

The first transistor T1 is turned on at a selected timing in the displaydriving period D and supplies the data voltage Vdata which is suppliedvia the data line DL to the source node or the drain node of the drivingtransistor DRT.

The first transistor T1 is turned off in the touch driving period T.

Accordingly, in the display driving period D, the sensing signal SENSEhas a turn-on level voltage (for example, Vgh) at a timing at which thefirst transistor T1 is turned on and has a turn-off level voltage (forexample, Vgl) at other timings. In the touch driving period T, thevoltage level of the sensing signal SENSE swings within a turn-off levelvoltage range and one or more of a frequency, a phase, and an amplitudethereof corresponds to the second reference voltage Vref2.

The second transistor T2 is turned on at a selected timing in thedisplay driving period D and supplies the first reference voltage Vref1which is supplied to the reference electrode RE via the referencevoltage line RVL to the gate node of the driving transistor DRT.

The second transistor T2 is turned off in the touch driving period T.

Accordingly, in the display driving period D, the scan signal SCAN has aturn-on level voltage (for example, Vgh) at a timing at which the secondtransistor T2 is turned on and has a turn-off level voltage (forexample, Vgl) at other timings. In the touch driving period T, thevoltage level of the scan signal SCAN swings within a turn-off levelvoltage range and one or more of a frequency, a phase, and an amplitudethereof corresponds to the second reference voltage Vref2.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a swing circuit of a drive voltageEVDD and a base voltage EVSS when the light emitting display device 100according to the embodiments of the present disclosure performsload-free driving in a touch driving period.

Referring to FIG. 24 , a swing circuit of the drive voltage EVDDincludes a touch power IC 1710 and two transistors TRA and TRC.

The touch power IC 1710 controls ON and OFF of two transistors TRA andTRC using two control signals A and C. The touch power IC 1710 outputsthe second drive voltage value Vdd2.

Under the control of the touch power IC 1710, two transistors TRA andTRC are alternately turned on and off. Accordingly, the first drivevoltage value Vdd1 and the second drive voltage value Vdd2 arealternately supplied to the drive voltage line DVL.

The difference ΔVdd between the first drive voltage value Vdd1 and thesecond drive voltage value Vdd2 corresponds to the amplitude ΔVt of thesecond reference voltage Vref2.

Referring to FIG. 24 , a swing circuit of the base voltage EVSS includesa touch power IC 1710 and two transistors TRB and TRD.

The touch power IC 1710 controls ON and OFF of two transistors TRB andTRD using two control signals B and D. The touch power IC 1710 outputsthe second base voltage value Vss2.

Under the control of the touch power IC 1710, two transistors TRB andTRD are alternately turned on and off. Accordingly, the first basevoltage value Vss1 and the second base voltage value Vss2 arealternately supplied to the cathode electrode.

The difference ΔVss between the first base voltage value Vss1 and thesecond base voltage value Vss2 corresponds to the amplitude ΔVt of thesecond reference voltage Vref2.

FIGS. 25 and 26 are diagrams illustrating an example of a configurationof a reference electrode RE in the light emitting display panel 110according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 25 and 26 , in the light emitting display panel 110,a buffer layer BUF is disposed on a substrate SUB.

An active layer ACT is disposed on the buffer layer BUF, a gateinsulating film GI is disposed on the active layer ACT, and a gateelectrode G is disposed on the gate insulating film GI.

An interlayer insulating film ILD is disposed to cover all the gateelectrode G, the active layer ACT, the gate insulating film GI, and thebuffer layer BUF.

Source and drain electrodes S and D are disposed on the interlayerinsulating film ILD. The source and drain electrodes S and D are incontact with one end and the other end of the active layer ACT via ahole formed in the interlayer insulating film ILD. A passivation layerPAS is disposed thereon.

Referring to FIG. 25 , a light shield layer LS is disposed under theactive layer ACT in a transistor area (an area in which S, D, G, and ACTare formed).

Each of the plurality of reference electrodes RE corresponds to thelight shield layer LS which is disposed under the active layer ACT inthe transistor area (an area in which S, D, G, and ACT are formed).

When the transistor illustrated in FIG. 25 is the second transistor T2,the drain electrode D or the source electrode S of the second transistorT2 are in contact with the reference electrode RE corresponding to thelight shield layer LS.

Referring to FIG. 26 , an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer for improvementin performance of a touch sensor (an increase in touch capacitance) isdisposed under the active layer ACT in the transistor area (an area inwhich S, D, G, and ACT are formed), and the ITO layer can be used as thereference electrode RE.

When the transistor illustrated in FIG. 25 is the second transistor T2,the drain electrode D or the source electrode S of the second transistorT2 is in contact with the reference electrode RE corresponding to theITO layer.

On the other hand, the reference electrode RE is located under theencapsulation layer.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving the lightemitting display device 100 according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 27 , a method of driving the light emitting displaydevice 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosureincludes a step S2710 of supplying a data voltage Vdata to a pluralityof data lines DL and supplying a first reference voltage Vref1 to aplurality of reference electrodes RE which are electrically connected toa plurality of reference voltage lines RVL in a first driving period anda step S2720 of supplying a second reference voltage Vref2 differentfrom the first reference voltage Vref1 to one or more of the pluralityof reference electrodes RE via one or more of the plurality of referencevoltage lines RVL in a second driving period different from the firstdriving period.

The first driving period may be an image driving period for displayingan image or a display sensing period for sensing a threshold voltage ora mobility, and the second driving period may be a touch driving period.

The first reference voltage Vref1 has a constant voltage level, and thesecond reference voltage Vref2 swings with a selected amplitude.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possibleto provide a light emitting display device, a light emitting displaypanel, a driving circuit, and a driving method in which a touch sensoris embedded.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possibleto provide a light emitting display device, a light emitting displaypanel, a driving circuit, and a driving method in which a touch sensoris embedded in conjunction with a subpixel structure.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possibleto provide a light emitting display device, a light emitting displaypanel, a driving circuit, and a driving method that can provide animproved touch sensitivity.

The above description has been presented to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the technical idea of the present disclosure,and has been provided in the context of a particular application and itsrequirements. Various modifications, additions and substitutions to thedescribed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to otherembodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present disclosure. The above description and the accompanyingdrawings provide an example of the technical idea of the presentdisclosure for illustrative purposes only. That is, the disclosedembodiments are intended to illustrate the scope of the technical ideaof the present disclosure. Thus, the scope of the present disclosure isnot limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widestscope consistent with the claims. The scope of protection of the presentdisclosure should be construed based on the following claims, and alltechnical ideas within the scope of equivalents thereof should beconstrued as being included within the scope of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. Additional changes can be made to the embodimentsin light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the followingclaims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims tothe specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims,but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along withthe full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A light emitting display device comprising:a light emitting display panel including a plurality of data lines forsupplying analog data voltages from a data driver, which analog datavoltages result from converted image data, a plurality of referencevoltage lines for transmitting a reference voltage corresponding to acommon voltage, and a plurality of subpixels; and a driving circuitconfigured to drive the light emitting display panel, a first subpixelamong the plurality of subpixels including: a light emitting element; adriving transistor for driving the light emitting element, the drivingtransistor having a source node, a drain node, and a gate node; a firsttransistor for controlling an electrical connection between either thesource node or the drain node of the driving transistor and a first dataline among the plurality of data lines that is connected to transfer adata voltage to at least one of either the source node or the drain nodeof the driving transistor, wherein the data voltage is a variablevoltage based on the image data for displaying an image; and a storagecapacitor coupled between the gate node of the driving transistor andeither the source node or the drain node of the driving transistor,wherein the light emitting display panel further includes a secondtransistor for controlling an electrical connection between the gatenode of the driving transistor included in the first subpixel and afirst reference voltage line among the plurality of reference voltagelines that is different from the first data line, and wherein the imagedisplayed stores the potential difference between the reference voltageand the data voltage on the storage capacitor to display an image. 2.The light emitting display device of claim 1, further comprising: adigital-to-analog converter electrically connectable to the first dataline; a first switch configured to control an electrical connectionbetween the digital-to-analog converter and the first data line; ananalog-to-digital converter electrically connectable to the first dataline; and a second switch configured to control an electrical connectionbetween the analog-to-digital converter and the first data line.
 3. Alight emitting display device, comprising: a light emitting displaypanel including a plurality data lines, a plurality of reference voltagelines, and a plurality of subpixels; and a driving circuit configured todrive the light emitting display panel, a first subpixel among theplurality of subpixels including: a light emitting element; a drivingtransistor for driving the light emitting element, the drivingtransistor having a source node, a drain node, and a gate node; a firsttransistor for controlling an electrical connection between either thesource node or the drain node of the driving transistor and a first dataline among the plurality of data lines; and a storage capacitor coupledbetween the gate node of the driving transistor and either the sourcenode or the drain node of the driving transistor, wherein the lightemitting display panel further includes a second transistor forcontrolling an electrical connection between the gate node of thedriving transistor included in the first subpixel and a first referencevoltage line among the plurality of reference voltage lines, whereinduring a first driving period, a data voltage for driving an imagedisplay is supplied to the first data line, and a first referencevoltage having a constant voltage level is supplied to the firstreference voltage line, and wherein during a second driving perioddifferent from the first driving period, a second reference voltageswinging with a selected amplitude is supplied to the first referencevoltage line, and a first load-free signal having an amplitudecorresponding to the amplitude of the second reference voltage issupplied to the first data line.
 4. The light emitting display device ofclaim 3, wherein during the first driving period, the second transistoris turned on, and the first reference voltage supplied to the firstreference voltage line is applied to the gate node of the drivingtransistor included in the first subpixel through the turned-on secondtransistor, and wherein during the second driving period, the secondtransistor is turned off, and the second reference voltage is suppliedto the first reference voltage line and is not applied to the gate nodeof the driving transistor included in the first subpixel.
 5. The lightemitting display device of claim 3, wherein during the first drivingperiod, the first transistor is turned on, and the data voltage suppliedto the first data line is applied to either the source node or the drainnode of the driving transistor included in the first subpixel throughthe turned-on first transistor, and wherein during the second drivingperiod, the first transistor is turned off, and the first load-freesignal is supplied to the first data line and is not applied to eitherthe source node or the drain node of the driving transistor included inthe first subpixel.
 6. The light emitting display device of claim 3,wherein during the first driving period, a sensing signal having eithera turn-on level voltage or a turn-off level voltage is supplied to thegate node of the first transistor, and a scan signal having either aturn-on level voltage or a turn-off level voltage is supplied to thegate node of the second transistor, wherein during the second drivingperiod, a second load-free signal is supplied to the gate node of thefirst transistor, and the second load-free signal is supplied to a gatenode of the second transistor, and wherein the second load-free signalhas an amplitude corresponding to the amplitude of the second referencevoltage, and a voltage level of the second load-free signal changes in arange for turning off the first transistor and the second transistor. 7.The light emitting display device of claim 3, wherein during the firstdriving period, the driving voltage supplied to the driving transistorhas a constant voltage level, and the base voltage supplied to thesecond electrode among a first electrode and a second electrode of thelight emitting element has a constant voltage level, and wherein duringthe second driving period, the driving voltage supplied to the drivingtransistor swings with an amplitude corresponding to the amplitude ofthe second reference voltage, and the base voltage supplied to thesecond electrode of the light emitting element swings with an amplitudecorresponding to the amplitude of the second reference voltage.
 8. Thelight emitting display device of claim 3, wherein the plurality ofsubpixels further include a second subpixel disposed adjacent to thefirst subpixel, the second subpixel includes; a light emitting element;a driving transistor for driving the light emitting element, the drivingtransistor having a source node, a drain node, and a gate node; a firsttransistor for controlling an electrical connection between either thesource node or the drain node of the driving transistor and a seconddata line among the plurality of data lines; and a storage capacitorcoupled between the gate node of the driving transistor and either thesource node or the drain of the driving transistor, and wherein thelight emitting display panel further includes a first referenceelectrode electrically coupled to the first reference voltage line, andwherein the first reference electrode overlaps both the first subpixeland the second subpixel.
 9. The light emitting display device of claim8, wherein each of the first subpixel and the second subpixel separatelyincludes the second transistor, wherein the second transistor of thefirst subpixel controls an electrical connection between a gate node ofthe driving transistor included in the first subpixel and the firstreference voltage line, and wherein the second transistor of the secondsubpixel controls an electrical connection between a gate node of thedriving transistor included in the second subpixel and the firstreference voltage line.
 10. The light emitting display device of claim8, wherein the first subpixel and the second subpixel share the secondtransistor, and wherein the second transistor controls that a gate nodeof the driving transistor included in the first subpixel and a gate nodeof the driving transistor included in the second subpixel are commonlycoupled to the first reference voltage line.
 11. The light emittingdisplay device of claim 8, wherein the driving circuit includes areference electrode driving circuit configured to drive the firstreference electrode, wherein during the first driving period, thereference electrode driving circuit is configured to supply the firstreference voltage to the first reference electrode, and wherein duringthe second driving period, the reference electrode driving circuit isconfigured to supply the second reference voltage to the first referenceelectrode, detect a signal through the first reference electrode, andoutput touch sensing data.
 12. The light emitting display device ofclaim 11, wherein the driving circuit includes a touch controllerconfigured to detect either the presence or absence of a touch or atouch position based on the touch sensing data.